Celebrating Ted Messner’s RBJ 40 Under 40 Award for his leadership, community impact, and dedication to continuing a proud family legacy.
A New Milestone: Ted Messner’s RBJ 40 Under 40 Award
We are overjoyed to announce that our very own Ted Messner has been named to the RBJ 40 Under 40 list. This recognition honors his leadership, community dedication, and vision for the future of Messner Flooring.
As President and now owner of Messner Flooring, Ted has built on the 60+ year tradition established by his grandfather and father. He’s modernizing it for tomorrow without losing the heart of what makes our company special.
What Is the RBJ 40 Under 40 Award?
The Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 program celebrates professionals under age 40 who excel in business and give back to their communities. It has been running since 1995 and recognizes future leaders in the Greater Rochester area.
Candidates are judged on professional achievement (growth, leadership, innovation) and on civic involvement. This is more than an accolade. It’s a statement: success is measured not only by what you do, but how deeply you engage with your community.
From Solar to Floors: Ted’s Journey to Leadership
Ted’s path to the helm of Messner Flooring wasn’t a straight line. When he graduated from college, he pivoted toward the solar industry, seeking an independent track. It wasn’t long, though, before the pull of family legacy and community began to resonate.
In 2013, Ted officially joined Messner’s commercial division.
He started at the ground level, taking any assignment, learning every facet of operations, bidding, contracts.
Over time, he developed a deep appreciation for the company’s roots.
“Hearing customers say, ‘You did our floors 20 or 30 years ago,’ reminds me of how meaningful our work is.”
This sense of continuity, where a job done decades ago still resonates today, has fueled his commitment to modernization, sustainability, and growth.
A New Era: Stepping into the Owner Role
In late 2024, a generational transition took place. Peter Messner, after leading the company since 1987 as owner and President, officially passed the reins to Ted. The deal was finalized around November, 2024. Now, Ted is not just President, he’s the owner.
Peter’s legacy looms large: expansion, innovation, deep customer trust. Ted honors that legacy, while looking ahead.
He says,
“Our industry is changing quickly. From sustainable flooring to new technologies, there’s so much happening. That’s why I’m excited to lead Messner Flooring into this new era.”
Ted’s role now includes managing the commercial division while overseeing the entire enterprise.
His deep personal investment is clear in how he interacts with clients, especially nonprofit organizations. He aims to continue the trust and relationships that his father and grandfather built.
Ted Messner 40 Under 40 Award: What It Means
This honor isn’t just about business success. It’s a recognition of how Ted is weaving community service into leadership.
He is involved in reviving initiatives like Rochester’s Habitat for Humanity “Leaders Build,” and he serves on local boards such as the Small Business Council and the St. Johns Foundation. (As you highlighted.) These roles reflect something critical: Ted sees business and civic life as inseparable.
His relationships in the nonprofit sector run deep. He’s not a distant donor, he’s a partner, collaborator, and trusted advisor. That level of authenticity matters.
For Ted Messner, winning the 40 Under 40 Award is more than just an honor. It’s a milestone in a leadership journey already rooted in impact.
Rooted in Community, Growing with Purpose
Messner Flooring has long been committed to Rochester. We support schools, youth sports, Foodlink, Habitat for Humanity, and more. Ted often says that his grandfather and father instilled this sense of service in him.
One story stands out: while volunteering at a local meal program, Ted met someone who recognized his surname. They said, “Your grandfather installed our church’s floors 40 years ago.” Moments like that remind him, and all of us, that legacy matters. That relationships carry across generations.
Ted’s growing his own legacy, too: mentoring employees, encouraging volunteering, forging new partnerships, and innovating with integrity.
Commitment to Excellence: Then & Now
Under Ted’s leadership, Messner Flooring continues to honor its core pillars: premium materials, excellent installations, and outstanding customer experience.
But he’s also pushing into new territory: sustainability, technology, systems that scale.
He believes that growth must always be anchored in quality. Expansion for its own sake is hollow; evolution with purpose is what counts.
From hardwoods to luxury vinyl, from historic churches to modern office spaces, the work we do creates foundations, literal and symbolic, for homes and organizations. With Ted leading the way, that work is in thoughtful hands.
Congratulations, Ted!
We’re incredibly proud to see Ted’s leadership and dedication recognized with this distinction. The 40 Under 40 Award validates what many of us already knew: he’s shaping a future where family legacy, community values, and business excellence converge.
Here’s to you, Ted: may your chapter be as meaningful as those that came before!
👉 Check out the full RBJ 40 Under 40 list and event details here: rbj.net/event/forty-under-40